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Thursday October 22, 2020
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors today approved the NextGen Bus Plan, an ambitious effort to redesign and reimagine the agency’s entire bus system to meet the needs of today’s riders. Approved changes will begin in December 2020 and be phased in over the next year with a focus on fast, frequent reliable service on key corridors.
“Angelenos deserve a world-class transportation network, anchored by a convenient bus system that takes us where we need to go,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti, Chair of the Metro Board. “The NextGen Bus Plan steers us in the right direction — toward dedicated bus lanes, higher ridership, and faster, more reliable service — and builds on our historic investments in public transit designed to ease traffic, reduce emissions, and help get Angelenos out of our cars.”
When NextGen is fully implemented, there will be more frequent, all-day bus service on more routes, shorter wait times for buses and more reliable service. The plan calls for buses to be scheduled to arrive every five to 10 minutes for 83 percent of current riders compared to 48 percent today. Even during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the NextGen network and its focus on improving the frequency of service will better serve bus riders as Metro rebuilds service.
NextGen aims to adjust bus routes and maximizes service on key corridors with the highest demand. The best Local and Rapid bus lines will be combined to offer more overall frequency. Buses would stop fewer times than a local bus but a few more than a rapid line with stops about a quarter-mile apart. Transit signal priority for buses and all door boarding are also planned on major corridors. NextGen changes will be coordinated with the agency’s launch of new on-demand Metro Micro service beginning in December.
“This is the first major overhaul of Metro’s bus system in more than 25 years and these changes will vastly improve bus service for current and future riders,” said Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington. “Metro’s bus ridership has fallen less during the pandemic than in many other metro areas — which demonstrates how much people completely depend on our bus system, which will now better serve everyone’s needs.”
To view the specifics of the NextGen Bus Plan visit metroexemplifi.wpengine.com/nextgen.
About Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is currently providing lifeline service for essential trips and frontline workers. Metro continues building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan.
Metro has proudly pledged to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Health and Safety Commitment Program to help ensure the safe return of transit riders as the U.S. recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, twitter.com/metrolosangeles and twitter.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.
